Keepin it local
While approximately 20,000 people around our world die from hunger every day, the profile of a hungry person in Western Washington continues to defy society’s assumptions. Nearly 45% of those using a food bank, meal program or shelter here have some form of post-secondary education. Only 15% are actually homeless. Many of the people served by our local food bank are among the working poor. Approximately 13% of those served are seniors and 45% are under the age of 18. Hunger causes many families to make difficult choices. Many choose between food and heat, medicine/medical care and rent.
In our Valley, we are fortunate that many individuals, families and organizations rally behind the local food banks and social service agencies to make sure that none of our neighbors go without at the holidays. This support is incredibly helpful and is greatly appreciated.
Even more encouraging is the collaborative model that allows the Mount Si Helping Hand Food Bank to provide food to 1,200 people (300+ families) each week throughout the year. Utilization rates have increased significantly since this time last year, and 361 people signed in and went through the line last week. Helping Hands provides between 12,000 and 15,000 pounds of food every week to our neighbors.
Partnership is critical to the success of the model. The team at Helping Hands is comprised of a skeleton staff and approximately 75 volunteers who work about 200 hour each week. More than $104,000 of support comes from local government, churches and individuals, and more than $700,000 of in-kind assistance comes from local and regional non-profits. This includes 7,000 pounds of food each week from the Food Life Line (5,000 lbs) and Northwest Harvest (2,000 pounds). Our local Safeway, QFC, IGA and Starbucks provide food through pick-ups as often as 6 times each week.
Additional support comes through channel partners; the Mount Si Senior Center, Encompass, the King County Sheriff’s Department and the school district all play an important role in ensuring that people who need support gain awareness of and access to the resources available.
The Mount Si Helping Hands Food Bank is truly an example of the “keepin’ it local” spirit. If you would like to make an online donation or learn more about volunteering, please visit www.mtsifoodbank.org. Hunger has a devastating impact on the lives and health of children and adults alike. Helping Hands’ collaborative model demonstrates the power of ordinary people working together in our extraordinary Valley community.
by: Susan Bushkin Livingston
